The Miami Heat have been players in this offseason’s trade market. They should be willing to do what it takes to land Bradley Beal if he’s made available.
After striking out on a deal to land Russell Westbrook from the Oklahoma City Thunder, which isn’t a totally bad thing when considering what they wanted in exchange, the Miami Heat are seemingly back in the hunt to land Jimmy Butler a co-star. If the latest reports from the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson are any indication, they may even land two.
Next significant event for Heat could be re-engaging with Wizards if Beal rejects three year, 111 M extension he's eligible to sign after July 26. For now, Wizards have rejected all trade overtures on Beal, a potential 2021 free agent
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 17, 2019
While this particular tweet only mentions one star in Bradley Beal, it has long been a Miami Heat rumor that the Washington Wizards would also try to move John Wall if they ever were to strike a deal to send Bradley Beal anywhere else. That would seem to complicate things for the team on the other end, but in all actuality, it shouldn’t. Here are a few reasons why.
When thinking about John Wall and his contract, a contract with a trade kicker that without said kicker would pay him $38.1, $41.2, $44.3, and $47.3 million dollars across the next four seasons including this one coming up, it isn’t that different at all from Russell Westbrook’s. This matters here because the Miami Heat were willing to take on that same money for Westbrook. Although Westbrook wasn’t coming off of the dreaded Achilles injury that Wall will be, the money nonetheless, is the same.
The second thing to look at with John Wall is the fact that if he only came back at 75-80 percent of what he was prior to his latest injury, that would still mean improvement for the Miami Heat. If Wall were to ever get back to 100 percent of his old self, then that would simply be the cost associated with acquiring a star such as Wall.
While you would want to find ways to protect yourself, which may not even be possible and when you think NBA Championships and titles like Pat Riley does, this would be an absolutely necessary move. Pat Riley swings for the fences when he swings, never just for contact. At a minimum, the Miami Heat would probably be able to get Wall to waive the trade kicker if it meant getting him to Miami.
Moving back to Beal for a second, there is something interesting that Jackson mentioned in the tweet above. It basically means that Beal holds the leverage here. He could threaten to not sign the extension, which would leave the Wizards with the choice of losing him for nothing or acquiescing to his demands, in the hopes that they might at least get something back for him.
Bradley Beal and Jimmy Butler could be a formidable duo for the Miami Heat. If Wall gets back to the as mentioned 75 percent at least, they could be a lethal trio.
Regardless of how it all shakes out in the end, the Miami Heat must consider being willing to do whatever it takes to land Beal, even if it may include taking on a currently injured Wall. If he bounces back to full strength, which should be likely given the science and technology of today, they would be the winners of that trade twice over.